Startup Genome's 2012 Startup Ecosystem Report
ranked the world's top-20 cities for startups, based on eight criteria.
"While Silicon Valley is far and away the strongest ecosystem, just 5 or
10 years ago most of the other ecosystems on this list either barely existed or didn’t exist at all," the authors wrote. "The global startup revolution is going strong, indeed." Still, we'll start with Silicon Valley, which "remains top of list in all dimensions." Click on for the other cities in the top 20. less

Startup Genome's 2012 Startup Ecosystem Report ranked the world's top-20 cities for startups, based on eight criteria. "While Silicon Valley is far and away the strongest ecosystem, just 5 or 10 years ago ... more

"Santiago is an example of how policy makers can help to kick start a startup ecosystem. It demonstrates to other hubs and their political decision makers that it is possible to nurture, sustain and foster an entrepreneurial mind set. To become self-sufficient, Santiago needs to build startups by attracting talent and capital from abroad."

20. Santiago, Chile: "Santiago is an example of how policy... Photo-3768732.52737 - NewsTimes

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19. Bangalore, India:

"India could well be one of the toughest
countries in the world for a startup to flourish. ... However, being one
of the biggest markets on Earth provides a foundation for a prospering
startup scene. Another important factor is the richness of India’s
talent base. Well educated and highly skilled, Indian web entrepreneurs
have the ability to transform both their economy and society. Bangalore
needs to take certain steps to enable entrepreneurs to build global
startups and attract talent and capital from abroad." This is the
Bangalore campus Wipro, India's third-largest software company.

"Singapore has the potential to become the central startup ecosystem of Asia, knitting together the huge markets of China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. ... Its unique geographical position at the heart of Asia provides a fertile environment for entrepreneurs to start, grow and scale their businesses not only in Asia, but globally."

17. Singapore: "Singapore has the potential to become the... Photo-2812700.52737 - NewsTimes

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16. Waterloo, Ontario:

"In the near future, it will be interesting to see whether Waterloo is able to hold on to its talent base or whether it will be sucked into Toronto." In this May 10, 2012 photo, Stephen Lake from Playfit Mobile stands in the University of Waterloo's VeloCity incubation startup area.

16. Waterloo, Ontario: "In the near future, it will be... Photo-3058913.52737 - NewsTimes

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14. Moscow:

"Russia’s internet economy reached a tipping point in 2010. ... Although copying established Western internet business models and localizing them for the domestic market has driven growth, the Moscow startup ecosystem now needs to step up its efforts to build globally viable companies. ... Moscow’s volume of young, yet fairly experienced entrepreneurs, overall pool of talent, its affinity for new technologies and quick adoption of new business models stand out."

"The Brazilian economy has been growing steadily in recent years. ... Sao Paulo is by far the largest startup ecosystem in Brazil. ... The Sao Paulo ecosystem has a healthy distribution of startups throughout the startup lifecycle stages."

"Due to Sydney’s early stage funding gap, there is an opportunity for investors to increase seed stage activity there, especiallyfor super angels and venture capitalists. The necessary capital supply will help founders to commit earlier full-time to their startups." Here, images by the German design collective Urbanscreen are projected onto the walls of Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art using digital 3D mapping technology during the opening of the VIVID Sydney festival of light on May 25, 2012.

A photo taken on October 22, 2012 shows panels of a photovoltaic power station installed on the roof of a building in the new Clichy-Batignolles district in Paris. AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

11. Paris:

A photo taken on October 22, 2012 shows panels of a photovoltaic power station installed on the roof of a building in the new Clichy-Batignolles district in Paris. AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

Photo: KENZO TRIBOUILLARD, AFP/Getty Images

11. Paris: A photo taken on October 22, 2012 shows panels of a... Photo-3768733.52737 - NewsTimes

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10. Chicago:

Chicago ranked fifth for performance, seventh for support, eighth for output and ninth for differentiation from Silicon Valley. It's home to such tech companies as Groupon whose headquarters is shown here on June 10, 2011.

"Vancouver has a healthy funnel of startups across the Startup Lifecycle. Seattle is a strong regional competitor for talent." Here, a designer works on digital special effects on December 2, 2011 at Studio of Miniature Effects Ltd in Vancouver.

"In recent years London has burst onto the scene and has become the most successful Startup Ecosystem in Europe, producing the largest output of startups in the European Union by far. ... London looks to be well positioned for continued growth as the leading Startup Ecosystem in Europe, and first choice for fast growing U.S. startups to establish their European headquarters." Here, people work in TechHub, an office space for technology start-up entrepreneurs, near the Old Street roundabout in Shoreditch on March 15, 2011. The area has been dubbed 'Silicon Roundabout' due to the number of technology companies there.

"Boston has lost its position as frontrunner on the east coast to NYC. ... The Boston startup ecosystem is significantly smaller than (Silicon Valley) but it
has a healthy funnel of startups throughout the Startup Lifecycle. It can be considered a serious alternative."

6. Boston: "Boston has lost its position as frontrunner on... Photo-3445460.52737 - NewsTimes

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5. New York:

"New York has established itself as a serious alternative to (Silicon Valley) for startups in the consumer space and those focusing on e-commerce, advertising, media and fashion. However, it has long way to go to truly catch up with SV, with about the half number of startups as SV." Here, job applicants meet potential employers at the NYC Startup Job Fair on September 28, 2012 at 7 World Trade Center in New York. More than 80 startup companies were represented, with some 600 job openings for the more than 1,000 applicants who attended the event.

5. New York: "New York has established itself as a serious... Photo-3768748.52737 - NewsTimes

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Taboola Gallery Frame Item-85307.52737 - NewsTimes

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4. Seattle:

The Seattle area ranked second for talent, fourth for support, sixth for mindest and seventh for funding among the 20 cities in the index. This ranking was a big step up from Seattle's 13th-place finish among 25 areas in a report this spring. Here, Dr. Matt Strickland, co-founder and chief medical officer of GestSrure Technologies, demonstrates his company's system, which lets surgeons touchlessly view and manipulate medical scans and images, at the Microsoft Accelerator for Kinect exhibition in Redmond on Thursday, June 28, 2012.

Although Silicon Valley has overshadowed L.A. in the technology realm, and Hollywood "made it difficult for startups to shine" within the city, "the LA startup ecosystem is gaining increasing momentum. ... Although the ecosystem has 70 percent less startups than Silicon Valley, it has a healthy funnel of startups moving through the startup lifecycle. There is a healthy opportunity for L.A. toestablish itself as an alternative to Silicon Valley."

Israel "has the highest density of tech startups in the world. In 2009, 63 Israeli companies were listed on the tech-orientated NASDAQ - which is more than Europe, Japan, Korea, India, and China combined. ... Tel Aviv has an impressive history of entrepreneurship and the ecosystem is still expanding. Yet ... there are some warning signs that they may enter the ossification stage of expansion sometime soon." Here, visitors check out a stand promoting Solar Systems at the EnergyTech international exhibition on solar, wind and green technologies in Tel Aviv on October 28, 2010.